Let's start this way: three terms: god, religion, theology. Pick one, and start your post with "God is," or "Religion is," or "Theology is." — tim wood
Agreed. Although I believe my definition to be correct, it is indeed incomplete. As God would be a higher being that us, we could not fully grasp its concept.Can we agree that believers can not precisely map out what they can know about the gods (because the gods are to some extent unknowable)? — Bitter Crank
Not necessarily. In some religions like christianity, judaism and islam, the belief is that the religious instructions were given by the gods, or else confirmed by the gods that the existing behaviours were good (like some ethical acts).Whether the gods exist or not, religions [and rituals] are a human creation. — Bitter Crank
"Theology is." — tim wood
BC, would this lead to a discussion on the nature of faith?Can we agree that believers can not precisely map out what they can know about the gods (because the gods are to some extent unknowable)? — Bitter Crank
180, this is an interesting proposition: that all theology consists of (psychological, I take it) rationalizations or manipulations of the story line?Theology is a litany of rationalizations for suspending disbelief in "god". — 180 Proof
I must respectfully disagree, or point out that you may be jumping the gun by getting into the contents of this religion or that. This goes back to the issue of faith--asserting the belief that human-written texts are the word of the diety.Not necessarily. In some religions like christianity, judaism and islam, the belief is that the religious instructions were given by the gods — Samuel Lacrampe
I believe you are missing the point. The original goal as per the OP is to find statements that most groups agree with, and my point is that there are many groups which disagree with the statement that religions are always a human creation.I must respectfully disagree, or point out that you may be jumping the gun by getting into the contents of this religion or that. — uncanni
The christian catholics would not agree with this definition of faith. As described, this would be called "blind faith", which is not regarded as a good thing. As per Thomas Aquinas, faith falls between zero knowledge (ie blind faith) and certainty about an object. Strong faith is supported by reason; reason which, while not achieving a full proof, yields to the probable or the reasonable. Thus any act based on a belief supported by the probable or the reasonable is an act of faith, which is good; where as any act based on a belief devoid of any reason would be blind, which is foolish.Faith is taking “because X said/thinks so”, i.e. the absence of any reason [...] — Pfhorrest
"God" is an empty name.
Theology is a litany of rationalizations for suspending disbelief in "god".
Religion is ritualized daily living as if (a) theology is true. — 180 Proof
"Faith" - irrational belief / practice - is like poor hygiene, pathogenic contagions & pollution: failure to resist oppose & prevent is more often than not hazardous to y/our health."Bull elephant in the room :eyes:
What is faith? — 180 Proof
Let's start this way: three terms: god, religion, theology. Pick one, and start your post with "God is," or "Religion is," or "Theology is." — tim wood
God:
Is that which nothing greater can exist; where "greater" means the most "powerful" in the sense of abilities.
Theology:
Is the scientific (rational) study of truth based on data from the gods, like the bible etc.
Religion:
Is the set of behaviours based on the findings of the theology. — Samuel Lacrampe
Faith per se is thus exactly what they would call “blind faith”, and it is only in fortifying a belief with something besides faith that it becomes not blind. — Pfhorrest
The modern definition of "Religion" typically refers to an authoritative creed, of which there are many. But I think religion-in-general goes deeper than that, into the essence of human nature. It's not just intellectual assent to a list of specific "truths", "facts" or commandments. Instead, it's an emotional bond to a family or tribe or social group. The details differ from tribe to tribe, but the feeling of belonging is the same for all people of all places and all times. It's the same emotional connection that unites a family or football team, or military unit. And it may even be motivated by the same neurotransmitters (e.g. oxytocin) that bond a mother and her baby.The second possible derivation was from ‘re-ligare’ where ‘ligare’ is related to the root ‘lig-‘ meaning ‘binding’ or ‘tying’ (cf ligature, ligament.) So re-ligare was to join to or unite with. — Wayfarer
"God is an empty name"? is that the best you can do, 180?
Whatever "God" may be, it cannot be an empty name: it would seem that in every usage, it means something. — tim wood
How, it being an empty name, do you account for the persistence of the idea? — tim wood
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